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Good Samaritan would embrace kids at border

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The current immigration crisis involving more than 50,000 children
crossing our southern border so far in 2014 may provide one of the most revealing tests for the
religion of Americans, especially American Christians. It could be likened to a familiar parable:
Will we be apathetic passersby or neighborly Samaritans to the travelers we find at risk of
violence and exploitation?

Thousands of children are fleeing their homelands for fear of rape, beatings and murder by gangs
who act with near impunity in their cities. Many children come looking to reunite with family
members; others simply have no other place to go.

Parents are scraping together roughly 18 months of income to fund a perilous journey through
areas controlled by drug cartels believing their children have a better shot at surviving in
America. Can any parent imagine making such a devastating decision?

When children arrive at our borders fearing for their lives, we can pass them by or meet their
needs. “Who is my neighbor?” Today’s good Samaritan would support charities providing aid and urge
Congress to provide asylum for these children in desperate need of help.